Welcome once again to Tuesdays with Dorie. This week's fun-filled recipe is sponsored by Michelle from Bake-en! Okay. Not really sponsored. More like hosted. Chosen. Selected. You get the idea. You can find the recipe for Dorie's Dimply Plum Cake either on Michelle's site or in Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.
Dimply Plum Cake. Just saying it (or typing it) makes me happy. It sounds cute and plump and sweet and a teeny bit spicy. Because of that, I decided right off the bat that I couldn't just make a plain ol' 8" square cake. No, I had to bake it so that it would do the "cute" part justice. At least for me. No one else would notice or care, but that's okay. I figured my 4" springform pans would do the trick.
And speaking of cute and plump and sweet and a tiny bit spicy, Julia helped me bake this one. (I can say "plump" - I'm her mom. And she's four - of course there's a bit of plumpness here and there. Her plump, pinchable cheeks, for one.) Anyway, she helped up to a point and then decided she had done enough, so downstairs she went to nurse her sick Daddy. Or to torture him. The line blurs from time to time.
Anyway, the cake.
Very simple to put together. I already want to make it again using any one of Dorie's suggestions in the "playing around" section of her recipe.
First, you preheat the oven and grease and flour your pan(s).
You slice your plums in half and remove the pits.
You whisk together your dry ingredients. (But before you do that, you arrange them in their little mise en placed vessels so you can take their picture.)
You beat your butter, add your sugar...then the eggs, oil, vanilla and orange zest.
Then you gently mix in your dry ingredients.
Pour the batter into your pan(s). Smooth the batter. Arrange the halved plums, cut side up, on top of the batter.
(Symmetrical arrangement of the plums is optional.)
Pop them in the oven.
Cool on a rack.
And then benevolently summon your family members once you've taken all the photos you think you need.
"Is it ready yet?"
"Can I have a big piece?"
"I'm sooooooooo hungry!"
"Mo-ommmmmmm!"
"What's taking so long?"
They may whine, but this cake is worth the wait.
That's just my opinion, of course. If you want to know what all the other nineteenthousandbazillion Tuesdays with Dorie bakers did with this recipe, and read about what they thought of it, and see the photos they took, then you should probably start here.
And if you want to form your own opinion, go bake yourself a Dimply Plum Cake. The words are delicious. The cake itself is even better.
These look great! Such a cute idea. Now I wish I would have tried them!
Posted by: Jamie | September 23, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Your little cakes turned out beautifully! Just perfect! And, Julia is a stunner!
Posted by: Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy | September 23, 2008 at 06:58 PM
So beautiful! with the 4 plums arranged that way, each cake reminds me of a quilt block. We didn't like it so much, but there's something for everyone at TWD.
Posted by: Lori | September 23, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Your cakes look lovely, but what I love the best is your pink plate. It is so cute.
Posted by: chocolatechic | September 23, 2008 at 07:42 PM
I see I am not the only one that thought "quilt block" when I saw your cakes. They symmetry of the design is really nice.
Posted by: Carol Peterman | September 23, 2008 at 08:53 PM
I love all the Julia pictures. And I think I need some of those cute little springform pans... =)
Posted by: Di | September 23, 2008 at 11:30 PM
I love your step by step pics and that you made such cute little cakes. Yum, that is all I can say!
Posted by: Mary Ann | September 24, 2008 at 01:09 AM
They look absolutely great!! I actually liked the taste better than I thought I would
Posted by: Marthe | September 24, 2008 at 04:23 AM
Funny some of you mention a quilt block with regard to the arrangement of my plums. I used to do a lot of quilting...guess it's still in the back of my mind!
And Di? Yes, you DO need some of these springform pans! :)
Posted by: Jayne | September 24, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Adorable cakes and children. I love your post this week. And those pans!
Posted by: Jules | September 24, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Those are some seriously small plums! 4 - or 5 - on top of a 4" pan, with room to spare. Wow, I'd love to make this again with those. Great cakes, and a fun little helper!
Posted by: Nancy (n.o.e.) | September 24, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Wow, those look absolutely delicious. I don't blame anyone for complaining they aren't getting a piece fast enough :)
Posted by: Caitlin | September 24, 2008 at 10:18 AM
I really like the size of the springform pans. They look perfectly adorable like this!
Posted by: Gretchen Noelle | September 24, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I probably say this every time I come here but I will say it again, GORGEOUS pictures! Great job. I was prepared to hate this cake, but I'm so glad I was wrong.
Posted by: pamela | September 24, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Your cakes look beautiful and I love all of your photos! Glad you enjoyed the cake so much. I agree, this was a good one!
Posted by: Tracey | September 24, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Adorable cakes, adorable daughter -- I really enjoyed your post! Loved your process pictures, too. Glad you liked them!
Posted by: Barbara | September 25, 2008 at 02:57 PM
This looks beautiful and delicious! I love the pans you used :)
Posted by: Erin | September 27, 2008 at 12:41 AM